Houston Options

[impala454]

and houston is a hellhole

yeah bc houston is the only place cars get broken into

[pysex]

yeah bc houston is the only place cars get broken into

no

i thought i would just reiterate from the other thread

[Testm0nkey]

i hear from more and more people that they really like houston


yay

[The Fanatic]

I think I could like Houston if I was allowed time to adjust to a city of that size.

[Hartmann]

i hear from more and more people that they really like houston
yay

Who are these crazy people and where do they live?

[Hartmann]

Ok, I'll write a long post as to why I think Houston is a less than desirable place to live.

1. Public Transportation - There are a number of reasons it doesn't exist (beyond Metro and the light rail to nowhere), including weather (it would have to stop every 10 ft. so that people didn't show up to work smelling to high heaven), geography, and the fact that no one would ride it. The city has spread out so much that it makes public transportation a dream that will never be fulfilled.

2. Weather - Let's face it, it's hot here. I don't mind the heat but a lot of people do, mix in the fact that the humidity levels usually hover around 85% year round and you have a rainforest disguised as a city.

3. Traffic - Since a good number of people do not want to live within Houston city limits, the suburbs are sprawling and continuing to get bigger while downtown living developments have barely started (and I doubt they'll go anywhere). This leads to horrible traffic on some roads (I-45 and 288, etc.) and makes morning commutes reach into the 2 hour range (and they wonder why people shoot each other). For a lot of people it doesn't matter, but that 1 1/2-2 hours each way could be spent so much more productively and that's important to me.

4. Overall Cleanliness of the City - This is a dirty city, no matter which way you look at it. The city of Houston eats up other cities (annexes) such as Bellaire, Bordersville, etc. to collect more taxes and yet they can't keep the city clean. Since grass grows like a weed here (weather), everything always looks overgrown and rundown. Oh, and before the Olympics bid we planted trees everywhere to make the city "look" nice, now there's just a bunch of dead trees on the sides of freeways.

5. Strip mall central - Everything is in a strip mall. For a lot of people, having a Target every 10 miles inside of strip mall is fantastic, for me, I thinks it's wasteful, especially when one of them closes down and there's just an empty building there for 5 years.

Those are my main points, I am sure there are more I can come up with. I have thought about living in the downtown area but it's almost unlivable. There is a single Randall's that is only walkable from the south side of downtown but other than that, you've got to drive to get groceries and necessities. Since more and more of the downtowns have moved away from city centers to business centers, this is happening all over the country.

I've also looked at the Heights and of all places I could live, this comes the closest. It's old homes that have been restored (sometimes) and shopping is done at a Farmer's Market. Sounds like my kind of place except for the fact that I-10 isn't done, I-45 @ 610 is terrible, and those are pretty much your only options for going anywhere.

[impala454]

Ok, I'll write a long post as to why I think Houston is a less than desirable place to live.

1. Public Transportation - There are a number of reasons it doesn't exist (beyond Metro and the light rail to nowhere), including weather (it would have to stop every 10 ft. so that people didn't show up to work smelling to high heaven), geography, and the fact that no one would ride it. The city has spread out so much that it makes public transportation a dream that will never be fulfilled.

Totally agreed, but then again the people who live here don't want it... I don't see how this is a reason why it's a less than desirable place to live. Where would you want public transportation to go?

2. Weather - Let's face it, it's hot here. I don't mind the heat but a lot of people do, mix in the fact that the humidity levels usually hover around 85% year round and you have a rainforest disguised as a city.

I think this is kinda a cop out... yes it's hot, yes it's humid, but in comparison to what? I love it when people (not saying you) say stuff like "omg I hate Houston it's so hot & humid there" and then move to Austin or Dallas, where it's not that much difference.

3. Traffic - Since a good number of people do not want to live within Houston city limits, the suburbs are sprawling and continuing to get bigger while downtown living developments have barely started (and I doubt they'll go anywhere). This leads to horrible traffic on some roads (I-45 and 288, etc.) and makes morning commutes reach into the 2 hour range (and they wonder why people shoot each other). For a lot of people it doesn't matter, but that 1 1/2-2 hours each way could be spent so much more productively and that's important to me.

It just depends on where you go... I think 1 1/2-2 hrs is an exaggeration, or at least the very extreme. I assume your evaluation includes the suburbs since you mentioned them. Not everyone goes into the city for work. Even then I'd put the average at prob 45 mins - 1 hr, which is still a lot, but I don't think it's that much worse than many other cities commutes.

4. Overall Cleanliness of the City - This is a dirty city, no matter which way you look at it. The city of Houston eats up other cities (annexes) such as Bellaire, Bordersville, etc. to collect more taxes and yet they can't keep the city clean.

I never really understood this... I guess I don't see the "dirtiness" everywhere that some people talk about.

Since grass grows like a weed here (weather), everything always looks overgrown and rundown. Oh, and before the Olympics bid we planted trees everywhere to make the city "look" nice, now there's just a bunch of dead trees on the sides of freeways.

well ya answered your own problem there... the grass grows like weeds... hell I have to mow my grass twice a week at least. I don't really see dead trees everywhere on the sides of the freeways though. What freeways do you see them on?

5. Strip mall central - Everything is in a strip mall. For a lot of people, having a Target every 10 miles inside of strip mall is fantastic, for me, I thinks it's wasteful, especially when one of them closes down and there's just an empty building there for 5 years.

So in a good city, in your opinion, what should happen with that land that's unused in our very spread out city?

I've also looked at the Heights and of all places I could live, this comes the closest. It's old homes that have been restored (sometimes) and shopping is done at a Farmer's Market. Sounds like my kind of place except for the fact that I-10 isn't done, I-45 @ 610 is terrible, and those are pretty much your only options for going anywhere.

Ugh I guess it's just a culture difference... see a good friend of mine lives down in the heights so I've spent quite a bit of time there the past several months, and I'm glad I did, because now I know I'd never in a million years want to live down there. There's not a lot of shopping around there, and like you said every direction you go you run into a major freeway. On top of that real estate is at a large premium down there, so you're paying a lot more for a much less convienent area to live in. Although in the evening those freeways are pretty low traffic.

I suppose it's just a matter of you not liking all the things about Houston that I do like. It seems to me that you're the type that would like to live in a densely populated downtown city area like new york or boston, and you want to see that type of environment here in Houston. It's just not how it is down here. It'd be like me going to New York to live and complaining that there too many people and I can't drive anywhere and there's no strip malls . I love the fact that I get home to my 30,000 people suburb, and can go to pretty much any type of shopping I want, any awesome restaurant I want, without touching a giant highway or being surrounded by concrete and skyscrapers.

[Hartmann]

Totally agreed, but then again the people who live here don't want it... I don't see how this is a reason why it's a less than desirable place to live. Where would you want public transportation to go?

That's exactly the point. By building strip malls and a giant sprawling city, public transportation becomes useless.

I think this is kinda a cop out... yes it's hot, yes it's humid, but in comparison to what? I love it when people (not saying you) say stuff like "omg I hate Houston it's so hot & humid there" and then move to Austin or Dallas, where it's not that much difference.

Actually, Dallas and Austin (to a lesser extent) are noticeably milder than Houston. Dallas' summers are pure heat (similar to Lubbock), which some find more desirable than Houston. I forgot the other thing, the smog which is huge here. I think I just read we are the city with the highest level of mercury in the air.

It just depends on where you go... I think 1 1/2-2 hrs is an exaggeration, or at least the very extreme. I assume your evaluation includes the suburbs since you mentioned them. Not everyone goes into the city for work. Even then I'd put the average at prob 45 mins - 1 hr, which is still a lot, but I don't think it's that much worse than many other cities commutes.

1 hour is the norm. I leave early in the morning so I miss most of it but my dad sits in 1-1 1/2 hour traffic everyday both ways, and most of his trip is on the Beltway.

I never really understood this... I guess I don't see the "dirtiness" everywhere that some people talk about.
well ya answered your own problem there... the grass grows like weeds... hell I have to mow my grass twice a week at least. I don't really see dead trees everywhere on the sides of the freeways though. What freeways do you see them on?

Notably, 610 on the south side, 59 at 610 (on the Southwest side), 45 just south of north 610, etc. The potholes are another piece that I left out. Besides it being just flat out dirty, there are potholes throughout the city. I understand they happen, but no one seems to fix them. Oh, and can anyone tell me if they are going to finish the West Belt at 59? It's like they've finished the work but left their crap on the side of the road.

So in a good city, in your opinion, what should happen with that land that's unused in our very spread out city?

So you are suggesting we should just take up land to take up land? I am saying don't spread out in the first place. Most people here have these huge yards that either they take care of or they let die or go to crap. Go to a major metropolitan city where the city has grown while still keeping it livable downtown (Chicago) and you'll see what it means to use land correctly. Instead of driving to your favorite restaurants and stores, you walk.

Ugh I guess it's just a culture difference... see a good friend of mine lives down in the heights so I've spent quite a bit of time there the past several months, and I'm glad I did, because now I know I'd never in a million years want to live down there. There's not a lot of shopping around there, and like you said every direction you go you run into a major freeway. On top of that real estate is at a large premium down there, so you're paying a lot more for a much less convienent area to live in. Although in the evening those freeways are pretty low traffic.

I just like the old style homes.

I suppose it's just a matter of you not liking all the things about Houston that I do like. It seems to me that you're the type that would like to live in a densely populated downtown city area like new york or boston, and you want to see that type of environment here in Houston. It's just not how it is down here. It'd be like me going to New York to live and complaining that there too many people and I can't drive anywhere and there's no strip malls . I love the fact that I get home to my 30,000 people suburb, and can go to pretty much any type of shopping I want, any awesome restaurant I want, without touching a giant highway or being surrounded by concrete and skyscrapers.

Well, I guess your favorite restaurants are Chili's, McDonald's, Benihana, Pappasito's, etc. Yeah, you're right you can get to any of those without much freeway driving at all. I prefer non-chain restaurants, just out of preference.

It's not like I've been displaced to here, I grew up here. As I've grown up, I've seen the things that have been done wrong. In NYC you don't have strip malls because you don't need them, you live in a city where just about everything you'd need to live is within walking distance, work is within a 30 minute train ride, and your local park is one street over.

I am not knocking your preference for living style, I am knocking the living method. Here it is space, space, space and upscale living, whereas in other major cities it is necessity, necessity, necessity, and I think there is something to be said for that. The frivolous, will, at some point, become the mundane.

Just look at the progression of things. When I was growing up, the only mall that was close, was Sharpstown. As the city has become more suburban, that area has turned to a pretty nasty place to go. Those houses used to be good looking and decent, now they are dumps. So, in the next 15 years will Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, etc. all follow the same path?

At some point we are going to have start looking back and reinvesting in the city itself instead of just moving away from the problem.

My girlfriend has a lot of insight as well since she moved from a small town (Leander) to east Austin and now to Houston.

And just a note, for my girlfriend to get anywhere from her apartment (which is located in a decent area), it takes about 15 minutes in any direction due to traffic. It is also a headache of an experience and it seems this becoming the norm rather than the exception, which is what it used to be.

[Oasis]

All cities have crime, weather issues, dipshit drivers, traffic, and cleanliness problems

However, Austin has UT football, which makes them cooler than Houston

[cupcake]

Houston is the reason I didn't take a lucrative position right out of college. I did my internship there and thought I was going to go on a killing spree.

the stripmalls, traffic, weather (vomit), and general lack of culture was suffocating.

ok, they have shakespeare in the park, but dude we almost had a heat stroke watching the shrew.

fuck that joint.

dallas is a hole, just not as miserable as houston and with radder sports.

[Hartmann]

Houston is the reason I didn't take a lucrative position right out of college. I did my internship there and thought I was going to go on a killing spree.

the stripmalls, traffic, weather (vomit), and general lack of culture was suffocating.

ok, they have shakespeare in the park, but dude we almost had a heat stroke watching the shrew.

fuck that joint.

dallas is a hole, just not as miserable as houston and with radder sports.

This is why you were an English major. You pretty much summed up my thoughts in about 1/18th the words.

I forgot about culture. We have the theater district but every time I go down there it seems like it's old people and that's it. Nothing like hippie counter culture in San Fran, creativity in Denver, etc.

[cmac]

houston is 2nd on my crappy cities in the US list. right after san antonio.

[cupcake]

I honestly think it is 2nd on my global armpit list.

#1 being mogadishu.

[impala454]

That's exactly the point. By building strip malls and a giant sprawling city, public transportation becomes useless.

But that's my point too.. The people who live here and like it would prefer the strip mall style shopping to the disgusting stinking public transportation.

Actually, Dallas and Austin (to a lesser extent) are noticeably milder than Houston. Dallas' summers are pure heat (similar to Lubbock), which some find more desirable than Houston. I forgot the other thing, the smog which is huge here. I think I just read we are the city with the highest level of mercury in the air.

Highest by what amount? With dallas at what, #3? Gimme a break.

1 hour is the norm. I leave early in the morning so I miss most of it but my dad sits in 1-1 1/2 hour traffic everyday both ways, and most of his trip is on the Beltway.

I guess it's just a matter of where you live and work. I can't say what the "norm" is. I know my parents both work in the NASA area, and their drive from Deer Park is roughly 12-15 miles, 20 minutes, without ever getting on any highway. It's actually a pretty drive as well, going through lots of parks and wildlife areas in clear lake near UH. My drive is from Deer Park to the NW side, about two miles SE of the beltway on 290. It's 35 miles and I make it in 35-40 mins every day. To me, that's pretty awesome considering the distance. Plus, due to the highway setup I have several different possible routes if one is high traffic.

Notably, 610 on the south side, 59 at 610 (on the Southwest side), 45 just south of north 610, etc.

Well I can't recall the last time I've been on the SW side so I guess I can't speak to that point, but I drive all over the place everywhere else in this city and haven't really noticed dead trees everywhere. In fact I've actually noticed the exact opposite lately, with much nicer landscaping, particularly around I-10 & the west loop.

The potholes are another piece that I left out.

This isn't distinctive to Houston, sorry.

Besides it being just flat out dirty,

But what's dirty!??!? I don't get it.. that's what people keep saying... are you saying the street has dirt on it? are you saying there's trash everywhere? I have no clue what you're talking about.

Oh, and can anyone tell me if they are going to finish the West Belt at 59? It's like they've finished the work but left their crap on the side of the road.

Again I never go to the SW side so I couldn't tell ya... sounds like that may not be the best area of town if it's so terrible.

So you are suggesting we should just take up land to take up land? I am saying don't spread out in the first place. Most people here have these huge yards that either they take care of or they let die or go to crap.

But people here like having huge yards and lots of space. And the residential areas are very spread out so it's pretty logical that the retail areas would be as well. In my area of town as well as the NW side where I work, there are still very large areas of grass/trees/empty land where nothing has been built.

Go to a major metropolitan city where the city has grown while still keeping it livable downtown (Chicago) and you'll see what it means to use land correctly.

Use it "correctly"? You mean what you see as correct. Those cities are that way because they have nowhere to expand. That is not a problem we have here.

Instead of driving to your favorite restaurants and stores, you walk.
I just like the old style homes.
Well, I guess your favorite restaurants are Chili's, McDonald's, Benihana, Pappasito's, etc. Yeah, you're right you can get to any of those without much freeway driving at all. I prefer non-chain restaurants, just out of preference.

No, not really. We have lots of hole in the wall local places we love to go to. But then again we also have a wal mart that's about 5 minutes away. No, it's not quite walking distance, but it's a matter of convenience. you seem to think that walking down to the grocery store 3-4 times a week is convenient, whereas I think having a 5 minute drive once a week is more conveient. Not to mention all those downtown areas you keep praising will have real estate prices through the roof, and other cost of living through the roof.

It's not like I've been displaced to here, I grew up here. As I've grown up, I've seen the things that have been done wrong. In NYC you don't have strip malls because you don't need them, you live in a city where just about everything you'd need to live is within walking distance, work is within a 30 minute train ride, and your local park is one street over.

So lets say I live in New York and need five things. I need a cat litter box, 20lb box of cat litter, wireless USB adapter, a large plastic toy truck, and a carton of milk and some sliced ham (this shopping list was a reality a couple days ago for me). Can you honestly tell me that you believe it would be more convenient for me to walk out of some loft apartment into the streets of new york, get all of these items, and return in less time for less money? Please. I'd like to see someone hop on a subway with all this shit in their arms.

I am not knocking your preference for living style, I am knocking the living method. Here it is space, space, space and upscale living, whereas in other major cities it is necessity, necessity, necessity, and I think there is something to be said for that. The frivolous, will, at some point, become the mundane.

But necessity is up to the person... you seem to be the type that enjoys the more eclectic (sp?), contemporary, dense, downtown city lifestyle. To be honest (not mean) houston is not the city for you if you enjoy this lifestyle. It doesn't mean that it's frivolous to live here. Or that there's anything wrong with enjoying a 2200 sq ft house on an acre of land vs a 600 sq ft apartment.

Just look at the progression of things. When I was growing up, the only mall that was close, was Sharpstown. As the city has become more suburban, that area has turned to a pretty nasty place to go. Those houses used to be good looking and decent, now they are dumps. So, in the next 15 years will Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, etc. all follow the same path?

It is spreading out, but I don't really see a progression like you're saying. Sharpstown definitely is a shithole area, but it's definitely not a representative of the whole area. I have lived in Deer Park for 20+ years and it's still just as nice an area as it always has been.

At some point we are going to have start looking back and reinvesting in the city itself instead of just moving away from the problem.

But this is happening already... the heights area that you mentioned is definitely under a transformation already. Go to the I-10/heights blvd area and it's amazing the number of huge loft style apartments and eateries around there. All those old style houses you liked are being bought up and rennovated, it's really nice. The area around minute maid park is getting a similiar rejuvenation as well.

And just a note, for my girlfriend to get anywhere from her apartment (which is located in a decent area), it takes about 15 minutes in any direction due to traffic. It is also a headache of an experience and it seems this becoming the norm rather than the exception, which is what it used to be.

Where does she live?


Here's the $65,000 question. If Houston is so terrible, so out of date, so frivolous, with such terrible climate, traffic, living conditions, atmosphere, etc, why do 5 million+ people live here? I say it's good to let the snobs leave.

[jonathan83]

houston is more humid than any other city in texas that i've ever been to.

[cmac]

So lets say I live in New York and need five things. I need a cat litter box, 20lb box of cat litter, wireless USB adapter, a large plastic toy truck, and a carton of milk and some sliced ham (this shopping list was a reality a couple days ago for me). Can you honestly tell me that you believe it would be more convenient for me to walk out of some loft apartment into the streets of new york, get all of these items, and return in less time for less money? Please. I'd like to see someone hop on a subway with all this shit in their arms.

i see this daily. probably twice as much. i can take a picture if you like. i can see how it's more convenient to drive to the grocery and throw all the stuff in the car and drive home, but it also wastes fuel too.

[cupcake]

So lets say I live in New York and need five things. I need a cat litter box, 20lb box of cat litter, wireless USB adapter, a large plastic toy truck, and a carton of milk and some sliced ham (this shopping list was a reality a couple days ago for me). Can you honestly tell me that you believe it would be more convenient for me to walk out of some loft apartment into the streets of new york, get all of these items, and return in less time for less money? Please. I'd like to see someone hop on a subway with all this shit in their arms.
_________________

you schlepp it! you have one of those folding dolly hooyahs that they sell everywhere in the city and bungee that shit up!

you also go to the corner grocery more often than you hit the supermarket with the tahoe and $300 worth of groceries.

you can also have the shit delivered for a nominal fee.

[Melanie]

houston is 2nd on my crappy cities in the US list. right after san antonio.

What's wrong with San Antonio?

And I f'in hate Houston. I just do. The city is a shithole and I refuse to drive through it when I go gambling in Lake Charles. 5 million people live there because they can't get out. Houston reminds me so much of Mexico. A crapload of lower income places, and some wealthy areas.

[impala454]

I drive 2 miles to the wal mart & back... 4 miles total. My truck gets 17.5mpg. So I'm using .114 gallons of gas. Roughly 30 cents worth. IMHO 30 cents of gas is worth the amount of time saved.

[impala454]

A crapload of lower income places,

you're defending san antonio and then saying this about houston?

[Testm0nkey]

my dads commute from Kingwood (north houston suburb) to sugarland area is under an hour in rush hour traffic. ive made that drive several times myself.

my dad used to take the bus from kingwood to downtown when his building was there. never heard complaints i think it just took an hour

i love houston weather!

houston has a TON of parks. ive found most people (even native houstonians) dont even know where they are

you have to be smart enough to live in a city thats that big and sprawling. dont live in a high traffic zone, work downtown, and expect to get there in 20minutes in the mornings. change where you are looking at for real estate and youll be fine

lack of culture? maybe you should have tried to look around

dont ask someone from a small town their thoughts on houston. they will either love it or hate it. and most probably hate it. its hard to move from a place where you are related to everyone to a place where theres so much diversity

i love houston, hate NYC, san fran is okay but pretentious, love LA, hate seattle. houston is so much different and really a much more unique culture

if you are looking for theater places and hanging out at the miller outdoor or something... yeah thats going to be old people

what i hate the most is people talking smack about houston and they seem to have never traveled around it outside of their suburb, or respective side of town, the galleria and work. ill talk to someone mention a totally awesome place and they go "really? i never heard of that place"

[Melanie]

you're defending san antonio and then saying this about houston?

San Antonio only has a few. We have about 1.3 million people there and have no major problems with street cleaning, drainage issues, and we actually have some middle income areas, which is the large majority of san antonio. Every city has section 8, I'm well aware of this, but Houston does a horrible job at integrating the buildings with the other homes in the area, which San Antonio does really well at.

I'm just saying I don't like Houston. People that like Houston, that's their thing. I just don't like it. Some people love Dallas, whereas I would rather eat a frog that was peeing in my mouth than live in that city.

[impala454]

houston has a TON of parks. ive found most people (even native houstonians) dont even know where they are

totally agreed... I hadn't done much near downtown growing up, but I went with a friend to memorial park to walk last night, and wow it was neat... tons of people down there walking/jogging, at 9 PM at night. I couldn't believe there was so much foresty area that close to downtown.

you have to be smart enough to live in a city thats that big and sprawling. dont live in a high traffic zone, work downtown, and expect to get there in 20minutes in the mornings. change where you are looking at for real estate and youll be fine

bingo

lack of culture? maybe you should have tried to look around

double bingo

[impala454]

I'm just saying I don't like Houston. People that like Houston, that's their thing. I just don't like it. Some people love Dallas, whereas I would rather eat a frog that was peeing in my mouth than live in that city.

That's cool... but why knock it or make blanket statements you don't know shit about? I know I always seem defensive to you guys (probably because I am a kind of defensive person ), but when it comes to my city that's where I'm the most defensive

"Slimey! Mudhole!! My home this is!!"

[cupcake]

impala and testmonkey are totally gonna hook it up over their houston lust...

lack of culture? maybe you should have tried to look around

um, houston isn't my first rodeo and believe me I did. I personally found it quite vaccuous.

but then again, I like lubbock...so there you go...

[Testm0nkey]

i really want to go to Bush park (pee on the sign) but its supposedly the second biggest in houston.

and i cant remember the name of the park where my family used to go but its also a nature preserve. they have petrified trees, natural swamp land thats BEAUTIFUL amazingly enough, really nice paved and natural trails with bridges over the water and through the hanging spanish moss. its creepy, eerie, beautiful and actually feels pretty nice since its so shady

[cupcake]

"Slimey! Mudhole!! My home this is!!"

[cmac]

What's wrong with San Antonio?

san antonio is worse than mexico. everything hartman said about houston. it's dirty.
the people are the dumbest in the entire world, but don't know it.
ridiculous drivers in slow breaking down vehicles.
it's worse than detroit. or juarez.

[Hartmann]

I'll reply to the entire thread later but the mercury comment was not just state, it was for the entire country and Europe. I'll find the link.

Also, testmonkey, during rush hour traffic, it is impossible to make it from Sugar Land to the loop in less than half an hour. Maybe the story is different on the northwest side, but I doubt it, so I have no idea how your dad drives that route that fast.

As a test, I am going to leave my house tomorrow at 7:45am and drive to work the fastest route (59 north to the south belt westbound) and see how long it takes me. It's approximately 13 miles.

Oh, and for the record, I've made my way around this city (a lot). I go out of my way to find cool places to eat (Montrose has a lot) and on that end, Houston has some great food if you are willing to trek the traffic and try and find a parking spot.

Boston is one of my favorite cities, next is Chicago (minus winter), Philadelphia (those who think it's just crime have never been), and San Francisco (the hills kill me).

[Testm0nkey]

houston culture is definitely there but theres a DEFINITE sense of it being "underground". when a lot of scenes cease being that way people typically complain that they suck. so i think thats a good thing but its EASY to stumble into.


1 question: how many of you houstonians that complain about it ever toured the theater/museum district? a field trip in 8th grade to the MFA doesnt count. its AMAZING. 3rd best in the country (arguably the 2nd)

i have made the trip from kw to first colony in under an hour at 7am several times. several times = every time i drove that trip. it was bumper to bumper once for less than 5 minutes around the medical district exit
(i dont have any traffic complaints about 59)

[False Dude]

Houston culture seems to be there but harder to find than Austin. In Austin its jammed into your face every moment of the day while in Houston you have to actively seek it out or you won't find it.

[Hartmann]

houston culture is definitely there but theres a DEFINITE sense of it being "underground". when a lot of scenes cease being that way people typically complain that they suck. so i think thats a good thing but its EASY to stumble into.
1 question: how many of you houstonians that complain about it ever toured the theater/museum district? a field trip in 8th grade to the MFA doesnt count. its AMAZING. 3rd best in the country (arguably the 2nd)

i have made the trip from kw to first colony in under an hour at 7am several times. several times = every time i drove that trip. it was bumper to bumper once for less than 5 minutes around the medical district exit
(i dont have any traffic complaints about 59)

Uh that's because once you are south of downtown, everyone is going the opposite way (which I guess is why I am complaining about it).

I go to the Museum District whenever they have something interesting (pretty often), but it does get old. I also have to drive to get there. Would be awesome if I could hop on a train and get there, I'd probably go more.

It seems like you are trying to attack my "culture" which I don't understand. I appreciate culture and interesting things and off the wall things and go out of my way to find them. That's not my main complaint with Houston. My complaint is traffic and frivolous living in sprawling houses that are too big for people and the fact that we just keep building and building and building and then the buildings just stay empty (so much for that wonderful economy here).

The 5 million people # includes suburbs, the actual population within Houston proper is much lower. A few more years and Houston will be annexing the Woodlands and Kingwood, then people will just move further! Woo hoo! A Houston-Dallas-Austin metropolis!

Also, on your parks point, yeah, we have parks, but you have to drive to get to most of them. The closest park to my parent's house is at least a mile away. Now, most people would say that's tolerable, but no, not the people here. Everyday, the parking lot is full.

[impala454]

Also, testmonkey, during rush hour traffic, it is impossible to make it from Sugar Land to the loop in less than half an hour. Maybe the story is different on the northwest side, but I doubt it, so I have no idea how your dad drives that route that fast.

Well kingwood is more due N/NE area. And yeah it is definitely better. Anything N/NE/E/SE is 10x better traffic wise than the NW/W/SW areas. I-10 from the west loop all the way to the east side is wonderful. 290 is horrendous, as is 59 SW. I think you just got the short end of the stick by living over there

[impala454]

Here's the average traffic speeds for last year at 5:00-5:15 PM, notice 59 and 290 are the worst possible roads to be on. Also notice how nice the rest of town is. It's a simple matter of knowing the area and choosing a place to live that makes sense based on your own job and activities.

red = 0-20
orange = 20-29
yellow = 30-39
blue = 40-49
green = 50+

[Hartmann]

Well kingwood is more due N/NE area. And yeah it definitely is better. Anything N/NE/E/SE is 10x better traffic wise than the NW/W/SW areas. 290 is horrendous, as is 59 SW. I think you just got the short end of the stick by living over there

Yeah, I knew it was N/NE just had a brain fart and I agree that I am getting the short end of the stick considering I live on the busiest stretch of freeway in the U.S.

[Hartmann]

impala, that's 15 minutes. Stretch it.

I've sat on I-10 on the east side for the better half of an hour, just to get to the belt.

The big point that cupcake was making about buying stuff and "schlepping" was that in a big city, you buy what you need out of necessity, not out of excess. You'll never see someone in Boston carrying a 24 pack of toilet paper because it saves them $.30 or the industrial size cake batter.

[Testm0nkey]

kw was annexed like 10 years ago

i wasnt attacking anyone or mean to i was in jest and goodness

ive also driven the other way on 59, heading towards downtown at 7am and its fine. you have to live in good traffic areas

[False Dude]

I never drive on 59 during rush hour but it never seems that busy to me otherwise. Its usually slow where it meets 610 but to me that's expected.

[Oasis]

Just buy a flying car and you won't have a problem!

[Hartmann]

kw was annexed like 10 years ago

i wasnt attacking anyone or mean to i was in jest and goodness

ive also driven the other way on 59, heading towards downtown at 7am and its fine. you have to live in good traffic areas

At 7am yes, the traffic isn't bad, but wait till you're in the middle of rush hour (8-9am) then things get interesting.

Can you define a "good" traffic area? That befuddles me in Houston. Everywhere I go it seems like people are waiting to get on freeways. The SW Freeway at 610 was terrible on Saturday at 1pm (explain that one to me), there was no wreck and traffic was backed up to the Westpark Tollway.

Again, I am going to leave at 7:45am and see how long it takes me to go the 13 miles.

[Testm0nkey]

i am an unofficial tourguide of houston. you people need to give it a second, third or whatever number chance with someone that knows what they are doing!

(edit: i was using times loosely i would have been driving that route at 8amish because thats when kevin goes to work and i drive that going from his house to my parents)

[Hartmann]

i am an unofficial tourguide of houston. you people need to give it a second, third or whatever number chance with someone that knows what they are doing!

But what makes you more qualified than me? I've lived here now 23 years (minus time at school) and have been all around the town. It's not about giving it a second chance. I didn't like Dallas all that much but coming back to Houston has put a bad taste in my mouth.

[cupcake]

impala, that's 15 minutes. Stretch it.

I've sat on I-10 on the east side for the better half of an hour, just to get to the belt.

The big point that cupcake was making about buying stuff and "schlepping" was that in a big city, you buy what you need out of necessity, not out of excess. You'll never see someone in Boston carrying a 24 pack of toilet paper because it saves them $.30 or the industrial size cake batter.

exactly.

I never had groceries spoil there, but I admittedly have here in Dallas.

[Testm0nkey]

But what makes you more qualified than me? I've lived here now 23 years (minus time at school) and have been all around the town. It's not about giving it a second chance. I didn't like Dallas all that much but coming back to Houston has put a bad taste in my mouth.

i dont mean to be attacking but TO ME it just seems like you dont know certain areas or things to do. BUT this is biased because im thinking OMG how can he not like this city theres so much to offer?!

so in my mind youve just missed out on stuff but im willing to guess we have very different tastes

[impala454]

impala, that's 15 minutes. Stretch it.

it's the average speed over that time period so the time has no relevance, unless you want to see a different 15 minute time frame. if you want to play with it here's the link:
http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/hist/hi...?mapdate=173006

I've sat on I-10 on the east side for the better half of an hour, just to get to the belt.

I have driven I-10 from the west loop to the east loop every day for the past six months. Short of having some woman or truck in the left lane, I'm rarely under 80mph. It does choke up a little at the beltway, but that's why I then take the loop down to 225... if I want to go to the beltway from there it's extremely fast. Like I said it's just a simple matter of choosing the right route and knowing the area.

The big point that cupcake was making about buying stuff and "schlepping" was that in a big city, you buy what you need out of necessity, not out of excess. You'll never see someone in Boston carrying a 24 pack of toilet paper because it saves them $.30 or the industrial size cake batter.

I don't buy a large quantity of items because I'm worried about gas savings. I buy them because I don't wanna have to go back to the damn store 3-4 times a week just to pick up necessities. And the dude in boston doesn't buy the 24 pack of toilet paper because it won't fit in his f'n apartment, or on his dolly (lol).

My time is my most valuable posession, and spending it walking all over the city to five different places to pick up five different things and dollying them all over and sharing my personal bubble w/a buncha weirdos on the subway isn't my idea of a good way to spend it. I'm not dissing those cities or that way of living, I just don't see how that's the "correct" way.

[Testm0nkey]

first thing im going to do when i move back is become a full member of the MFA and join the art guild and the "cool kids" club - the 20's-30's young professionals.

i also want to join the Jung society and eventually live in midtown

[impala454]

I can't wait to drop some weight and join up w/some of my buds in the massive amount of softball leagues that are around.

[Testm0nkey]

kevin and i will be hanging out with the people at Domy Books and help bring interest and exhibitions from all the cool lowbrow underground artists and then and then and then!!!

i will also befriend a rapper. goal number 2 in life

[False Dude]

haha

[Testm0nkey]

kevin you probably have dreams like that!

[GOB]

i went to houston for the first time about a month ago and was really impressed. there's groups of cool stuff to do every 5 miles, probably because it takes an hour to drive that far.

san antonio is worse than mexico. everything hartman said about houston. it's dirty.
the people are the dumbest in the entire world, but don't know it.
ridiculous drivers in slow breaking down vehicles.
it's worse than detroit. or juarez.

i'll take san antonio's mexicans over houston's blacks any day of the week. the traffic is a hell of a lot better than dallas or houston, with an equal number of beater cars.

the only thing this city is missing is shit to do outdoors (the riverwalk doesn't count). the entire city has like 7 parks, and the only one of a decent size is the usaa campus

[Hartmann]

kevin and i will be hanging out with the people at Domy Books and help bring interest and exhibitions from all the cool lowbrow underground artists and then and then and then!!!

i will also befriend a rapper. goal number 2 in life

I would like to clarify, I don't think you were attacking me, it probably came off as me attacking. We do have different tastes, and Houston fulfills some of my interests but as far as lifestyle, it suffers.

I have no interest in meeting a rapper or looking at paint spatter on a canvas (it's art, but not the kind I appreciate).

[Billy]

I personally love houston. But I think everyone has different experiences. Also, I grew up in a small town, and I don't think I'll ever go back.

It is very easy to find something fun to do here. Though I'm always open to suggestions.

My personal experiences in houston: I think this city is cleaner than lubbock. Downtown and the galleria area are absolutely beautiful and awe inspiring. I love the trees. Culturally, Houston seems to have it all. From German restaurants (with authentic old german band) to Indian movie theaters (that play movies from India!), it is crazy the stuff you find by 'getting lost'. There are some areas people tend to speed through, as do I. But I think every city has that. Traffic isn't an issue for me usually, as I live only 5 minutes from work. Traffic typically is only bad from my short experience from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. elsewhere in Houston. However, every time I've ventured down town, traffic wasn't really that unbearable. It seemed to flow pretty well for the number of people on the streets. The Rice area is my favorite hang out spot at the moment, as traffic seems to be light, and the bars and eateries are numerous. I haven't been to any shows yet, or really explored the artsy part of Houston, but hope to eventually (I really regret missing Blue Man Group, but now I know to keep an eye on ticketmaster and toyotacenter.com).

The city I wanted to end up at was New York City. But Houston has been a good subsitute.

[impala454]

well there's more art than "paint spatter on a canvas". houston's museum of fine arts is like the 3rd largest art museum in the country or something.

[Hartmann]

At it's core, I do prefer the "eclectic" downtown lifestyle, though I hate that word. All of Boston proper (even some of the suburbs) is "downtown" and everything is accessible through a 15-20 minute train ride, from Fenway, to the art museum, to the airport (all for $50 a month).

My cousin lives on the same row as a good restaurant, 1 block from a "gastropub" where the bartender knows his name, 1 block from groceries, 5 blocks from a farmer's market, and has fresh produce delivered to his house on a bi-weekly schedule. I like that. I don't mind picking up groceries every few days when I walk home from work. Oh, and he lives next door to one of the first prisons in the U.S. which is now a museum, the Philadelphia MoMA is about a 10 minute walk away, the Constitution center is a 5 minute bus ride, etc. His 3 bedroom row house was $350,000 and has a comparable amount of space to what you would in find in Houston (plus year round decent weather).

I just find the block after block of strip malls and the same 'ole, same 'ole gets really old after a while, that's all. I know that a lot of people prefer to shop at Wal-Mart and the "comfort" stores where we know where everything is, I just prefer not to shop there. I have nothing against Wal-Mart, it just is not for me.

I personally do not like sitting in traffic. If people do not believe that traffic is bad down in my area (or my girlfriend's, Eldridge and Memorial), come hang out with me for a weekend.

For me to live in an area in Houston that comes close to other big cities, it's really, really expensive, Impala even pointed this out.

Oh, and I like real seasons.

well there's more art than "paint spatter on a canvas". houston's museum of fine arts is like the 3rd largest art museum in the country or something.

I know that, I was being general, like most of the posts in this thread.

[Melanie]

the only thing this city is missing is shit to do outdoors (the riverwalk doesn't count). the entire city has like 7 parks, and the only one of a decent size is the usaa campus

Yeah, I kinda feel ya on the outdoors thing. We have Brackenridge, but if you don't like Beaners, you're screwed at that park. We have a fantastic hiking place by Six Flags. Eh, I guess I'm lucky because my parents moved to a ranch and there's tons to do outside there.

[Hartmann]

Culturally, Houston seems to have it all. From German restaurants (with authentic old german band) to Indian movie theaters (that play movies from India!), it is crazy the stuff you find by 'getting lost'.

What German restaurant? Hoffbrauhaus?

[GOB]

Yeah, I kinda feel ya on the outdoors thing. We have Brackenridge, but if you don't like Beaners, you're screwed at that park. We have a fantastic hiking place by Six Flags. Eh, I guess I'm lucky because my parents moved to a ranch and there's tons to do outside there.

yeah, once you get out past 1604 it's all open. along i-10 between SA and junction is a great area.


also, my favorite city of all time is on that drive: welfare, tx

[Melanie]

yeah, once you get out past 1604 it's all open. along i-10 between SA and junction is a great area.
also, my favorite city of all time is on that drive: welfare, tx

South of 35 outside of 1604 is a lot of beautiful ranch land and rivers.

OMG Welfare! I remember that town when I would drive from SA to Lubbock. That was my favorite town too.

[Billy]

What German restaurant? Hoffbrauhaus?

Rudy Lechner's

[pysex]

i did my time there...it was nice growing up when houston wasn't as big as it is now....and refugees hadn't invaded every major corridor


yeah it has cultural development....but how many effin times are you going to walk around the museum looking at the same displays? or how many times are you going to see indian movies?

i prefer to base my choices off of weather, location, traffic, population size, population mix, and then begin on things like restaurants, museums, etc.

of course...if a job requires you to move there then you pretty much have to make that personal sacrifice

[cupcake]

I just find the block after block of strip malls and the same 'ole, same 'ole gets really old after a while, that's all. I know that a lot of people prefer to shop at Wal-Mart and the "comfort" stores where we know where everything is, I just prefer not to shop there. I have nothing against Wal-Mart, it just is not for me.

I personally do not like sitting in traffic. If people do not believe that traffic is bad down in my area (or my girlfriend's, Eldridge and Memorial), come hang out with me for a weekend.

we obviously have the same tastes in what we like to be surrounded by. the only parts of dallas I care for are the lower greenville and gaston and whiterock areas where the strip malls are less up your ass and there's other places to go besides Ruby Tuesday's.

however, I live in addison, which is chain restaurant hell. I suck.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I dunno...I like living in Houston. My only complaint is the traffic...everything else I can deal with.

I've done Dallas, and I don't find it all that spectacular.

[Psykopath]

I dunno...I like living in Houston. My only complaint is the traffic...everything else I can deal with.

I've done Dallas, and I don't find it all that spectacular.

Your real name is Debbie?!?

hehe



I didn't like Houston much when I lived in that general vicinity (The Humble/Spring area). I prefer small to medium sized places, or large places that feel less polluted.

[Testm0nkey]

did i mention houston has the 2nd most number of unique restaurants 2nd to NYC?

im tired of eating at the same place!!! thats your own fault!

[Hartmann]

did i mention houston has the 2nd most number of unique restaurants 2nd to NYC?

im tired of eating at the same place!!! thats your own fault!

I don't think I've ever said the restaurants here suck... Actually, I like the food here, the options are endless. Granted, you have to get around town to get some of the better ones.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Your real name is Debbie?!?

hehe
I didn't like Houston much when I lived in that general vicinity (The Humble/Spring area). I prefer small to medium sized places, or large places that feel less polluted.

Yes, yes...my name is Debbie. I got plowed by every single one of the Cowboys.

And I agree with the restaurants part...I like being able to try a new restaurant every time and not run out.
I'm hoping work will take us to Fogo de Chao again (and pay)

[Testm0nkey]

kevin and i are going to Bistro Toulouse on Friday. I havent been to one of Houston's french restaurants yet so im excited. the place looks really cute

my restaurant statistic comment was because as i was skimming someone had posted "you get sick of eating at a chilis all the time" some comment regarding the strip mall like atmosphere

[impala454]

if you like tryin new places and like indian food, try yatra, downtown on the corner of capitol and travis. awesome place.

[Hartmann]

If we're going to recommend restaurants:

Mockingbird Bistro - expensive but oh so good
Bistro Provence:

[False Dude]

I looked at Bistro Provence also. We had walked up to Bistro Toulouse before though so I'd thought we'd try it.

[DaveFireDancer19]

I like Houston, lots of stuff to do, lots of places to eat, lots of places to shop...

Ive lived in near downtown (5 miles west of DT, between I10 and memorial, right inside the loop)...it was nice, quick drive to everywhere...for the most part at least...just stay off the west loop...

Now I live in Kingwood...59 (at least north of DT) is by far the best highway in town as far as traffic goes...20-30 minute drive to DT at 7am...never a problem... (now northpark on the other hand, once you get within 3 miles of home...they keep fucking with the road and closing lanes and shit..damn them...but everywhere has a road like that I would imagine)

Of course if you live in Woodlands, Katy, Cypress, Pearland, Sugarland, etc etc...youre gonna whine and bitch about traffic because I10, 45 and 290 can suck it...thats why I didn't chose to live in those places, knowing I don't care for traffic and I drive a stick....

I also don't mind driving 5 minutes to the HEB to get groceries...geez...if you want to WALK to get groceries...go live in a small town right next to a grocery store...

OH one thing that DOES suck....invasion of "katrina people" as BF says....they will NEVER go away...

[Testm0nkey]

you live in KW when the hell do you run into katrina people?!

ive only met one and i was walking around downtown at 11pm

[JStrider]

I didnt read all this thread...

but I'm living in houston now... up in the woodlands... and I work here to... hooray for riding my bike the 2.5 miles to work!

[DaveFireDancer19]

haha test, I lived near DT until August remember Our old apartment went to shit (hmph gee I wonder...) so we moved out of town

not to mention many many many LA tags on cars...a noticeable increase after the storms...I only noticed the increase in LA tags when the cars they were on almost hit me on the highway

and you're right, theres not many in KW

random thought...I'm not sure if I actually like the woodlands...its basically the same as KW..basically..but I just dont enjoy that area...hmph....my assignment is there at the moment...its not a pleasant drive..even on back roads...DAMN construction on 1314!

[JStrider]

other then being able to ride my bike to work I dont really have any particular love for the woodlands.

being in houston is only a temporary gig untill I can save enough money and move to the mountains!

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I am living in Katy...it's where i grew up. I am lucky though, because my job is out this way, on Eldrige in Energy Corridor...so I spend about 30 minutes driving each way per day. Not bad, considering other jobs I've had where I spent an hour+ each way. I use I-10 when i HAVE to, but otherwise I avoid it and find alternate routes. My boyfriend lives in Humble, so that's a bit sucky...but oh well!

[Hartmann]

I am living in Katy...it's where i grew up. I am lucky though, because my job is out this way, on Eldrige in Energy Corridor...so I spend about 30 minutes driving each way per day. Not bad, considering other jobs I've had where I spent an hour+ each way. I use I-10 when i HAVE to, but otherwise I avoid it and find alternate routes. My boyfriend lives in Humble, so that's a bit sucky...but oh well!

My girlfriend lives off Eldridge in the Energy Corridor. I bet you're loving that construction

[impala454]

katy -> humble geez that's probably the worst possible drive you could ever make.

[Hartmann]

katy -> humble geez that's probably the worst possible drive you could ever make.

That's what I was thinking... The conversations about visiting each other are probably something like this:

TTUAthleticTrainer: I am leaving right now, 2:30pm on Saturday. The entrance ramp to the Belt is closed, the right two lanes are closed and they are directing everyone to use the feeder. I'll see you tomorrow.

[cupcake]

katy -> humble geez that's probably the worst possible drive you could ever make.

my little sister katy...was born in katy. she's at tech as I type this. stay the fuck away or perish painfully...exquisitely...

[theIncredibleEdi...]

My girlfriend lives off Eldridge in the Energy Corridor. I bet you're loving that construction

WELL, Luckily that construction is right outside my building...so I come into contact with very little of it, because our parking garage entrance is kinda in the back...so I can take Enclave Parkway to get there. :-) But, yeah...it does suck nonetheless.

That's what I was thinking... The conversations about visiting each other are probably something like this:

TTUAthleticTrainer: I am leaving right now, 2:30pm on Saturday. The entrance ramp to the Belt is closed, the right two lanes are closed and they are directing everyone to use the feeder. I'll see you tomorrow.

:-) We mostly see each other on the weekends, but if we do do something on a weekday, we meet halfway.

[Hartmann]

WELL, Luckily that construction is right outside my building...so I come into contact with very little of it, because our parking garage entrance is kinda in the back...so I can take Enclave Parkway to get there. :-) But, yeah...it does suck nonetheless.
:-) We mostly see each other on the weekends, but if we do do something on a weekday, we meet halfway.

Citgo?

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Citgo?

LOL< you're good!

[Hartmann]

I've been to that office a few times. With the current climate down there, I'll probably spend more time there instead of "in country".

Saw this this morning and thought it was interesting: http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/transparen...storespace.html

Land area taken up by different chains.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I like it...i like having a parking garage LOL I park in the same spot everyday. The people are friendly. And my office overlooks Eldridge, so I get to watch the bad drivers and who is coming in the main security gate.

[impala454]

my little sister katy...was born in katy. she's at tech as I type this. stay the fuck away or perish painfully...exquisitely...

geezus... wtf did i say?

[moebary]

come on impala, you don't see the humor in that post?

[Divergent Realit...]

my little sister katy...was born in katy. she's at tech as I type this. stay the fuck away or perish painfully...exquisitely...

so. she is up at tech you say.

[False Dude]

lets see some pics of this sister.

[cupcake]

hahaha no fucking way in hell.

[impala454]

come on impala, you don't see the humor in that post?

oh i see the humor... just wonderin why it was directed to me i r no dogmeat

[cupcake]

oh i see the humor... just wonderin why it was directed to me i r no dogmeat

it wasn't. I was just cutting anyone off at the pass jokingly.

she's 23 and lethal. I don't have to worry about her.

[impala454]

sounds hot

[cupcake]

ass

[impala454]

sadly though 23 is starting to sound young to me

[theIncredibleEdi...]

sadly though 23 is starting to sound young to me

You dirty old man! Go register!

[kschristia]

I just turned 23 ; )

[cupcake]

great but you're not my half-sister.

[FORSAKENR320]

great but you're not my half-sister.

i'm sure she is fine breeding stock